The United Nations.

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Presentation on theme: "The United Nations."— Presentation transcript:

2Origins of the UN Go back to WWI and the League of NationsPresident Wilson’s idea of “collective security”“Collective security is one type of coalition building strategy in which a group of nations agree not to attack each other and to defend each other against an attack from one of the others, if such an attack is made. The principal is that "an attack against one, is an attack against all” (Dictionary of International Relations).The League of Nations, was an organization conceived during the first World War, and established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles "to promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security" (History of UN).

3Why the League of Nations FailedDid not have a military force of its own-members had to contributeMembers not willing to impose economic or military sanctionsSeveral big powers were not members- US, USSR, Germany, JapanBritain and France were reluctant to carry the burden-they just emerged from WWI

4Origins ContinuedDelegates from China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States deliberated at Dumbarton Oaks, United States in August-October 1944. In April- June 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco to draw up the United Nations Charter (History of the United Nations).

5UN GoalsFounded on the concept of internationalism-which establishes the cooperation of nations to promote common aimsMaintain international peacePromote justice and cooperationGoals are listed in the UN Charter or constitution

6UN Structure The General Assembly: Main body of debateConsists of 193 member statesEach state has one voteMajority of work is done in committees but Assembly votes to approve or reject committee suggestionsNo power to enforce decisions

7Security Council Charged with promoting peace and security5 Permanent members: France, US, Russia, Britain and China (winners in WWII)Have veto power10 other member states join on a rotating basis

8Economic and Social CouncilSpearheads the UN's economic, social, humanitarian and cultural activities.Works with various commissions that deal with human rights, population growth, technology and drugsHas 54 members who are elected by the General Assembly

9International Court of JusticeThe court is the main judicial body of the UN and is tasked with settling legal disputes submitted to it by statesLocated in the Hague- only part of the UN where the primary location is NOT NYCComprised of 15 justices elected for 9 year terms by the General Assembly and the Security Council

10Secretariat Secretariat does the day-to-day work of the UNAdministers the programs and policies of the organizationResearch, translation and media relationsEmploys almost 9,000 peeps from 170 countries

11Trusteeship CouncilAdministered the UN's trust territories. It suspended its activities in 1994 when the last of the trust territories, Palau in the south Pacific, became independent.The council, made up of the five permanent Security Council members, agreed in 1994 to meet "as occasion required".

14UN Agencies continued…UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - aims to promote peace and development through education, science, culture and communication; based in Paris.UN Environment Programme (UNEP) - promotes environmental protection; based in Nairobi.UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) - safeguards rights and well-being of refugees; based in Geneva.UN Works and Relief Agency (UNWRA) - dedicated agency providing assistance solely to Palestinian refugees and their descendants.World Food Programme - "frontline agency in the fight against hunger"; based in Rome.